Tigers' NRL versatility excites new coach

Joe Barton

New Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter knows he has a long summer of soul-searching ahead of him.

But far from having cold feet about turning the underachieving joint-venture around, Potter views the uncertainty around his starting line-up as a sign of the club's depth and versatility - and took the chance on Friday to put everyone in his squad on notice.

A quick glance at the Tigers' squad reveals how few players are guaranteed to hold onto their spots in the starting line-up.

Captain Robbie Farah is certain to stay at hooker, while Benji Marshall will fill the six or seven jersey and Chris Lawrence is assured of a centre spot, while the forward pack could get an overhaul due to the departures of Gareth Ellis (Hull) and Chris Heighington (Cronulla) - but even for the team's stars, Potter was giving no special consideration.

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"You're only as good as your last game, but they've certainly got some runs on the board, those players," he told AAP on Friday.

Even at fullback, where Tim Moltzen played the bulk of his 20 games last season, he has serious competition for his spot in the form of young guns James Tedesco and Kurtis Rowe.

"And that's a good situation to be in," Potter said.

"They wouldn't have got this far if they didn't have that competitive nature about them.

"That internal competition creates a good atmosphere and good environment to work in.

"Everyone is competing for a spot and they're competing against each other. That brings the best out in each player."

Potter is yet to decide on how most of his starting 13 will line up, but expects it will take shape by around Christmas - where only a few of the contentious spots will remain.

Among them is halfback, where former Sydney Rooster Braith Anasta is still being strongly considered alongside the likes of Jacob Miller and Curtis Sironen, Moltzen and Marshall.

"Halfback seems to be the question on everybody's lips at the moment but we've got some good options there," he said.

"We've got some versatility there as well which gives us other options.

"We're by no means at the end of the road. And by no means it's made any decisions about any players in particular.

"I want to see how they perform next week and then right up until Christmas. Then we'll start to formulate plans on which people get first crack."